Match Recap: Houston Dash 1, Seattle Reign FC 4

Seattle Reign FC continued to flex their muscles in NWSL play at BBVA Compass Stadium on Wednesday night with a 4-1 victory over the Houston Dash. Seattle clinched the NWSL Shield, awarded to the team with the best regular season record, with the win.

Sydney Leroux started the scoring early for Seattle. Leroux found the back of the net in the second minute of play after recovering a rebound off of Dash defender Whitney Engen in the box.

The Reign doubled their advantage in the 26th minute as Jessica Fishlock found Kim Little, who slipped behind the Dash back line. The NWSL goal leader placed her shot past Dash keeper Erin McLeod for her 13th goal of the season.

The Dash responded with threats of their own in the first half. Stephanie Ochs served a corner kick to the head of Becky Edwards in the 28th minute. Seattle keeper Hope Solo was forced to make two terrific saves to keep the Dash off the board. Ochs again created another near chance, but was turned away by Solo.

Erin McLeod gave the Dash momentum going into halftime. In the 42nd minute McLeod found herself one on one with Seattle’s Nahomi Kawasumi. McLeod dove to her right, and kept Seattle from taking a three goal lead to the half.

Seattle began the second half of play much like the first. In the 48th minute, Megan Rapinoe converted what originally looked like a cross into the box from near the endline. The ball from Rapinoe’s left foot drifted just above the outstretched arms of McLeod nestled unexpectedly into the far netting.

Down three goals, the Dash began to put pressure on again in the 53rd minute. Becky Edwards once again won a corner kick header and this time beat Solo, but was cleared off the line by Kiersten Dallstream. Two minutes later, the Dash did find their goal. Kealia Ohai dribbled along the right side and got to the endline before firing a shot at the near post that deflected off of Solo’s hand and into the back of the net.

The comeback bid was short-lived as Little found the back of the net in the 78th minute for the second time as the Reign cruised the rest of the way to a 4-1 victory and the NWSL Shield. The two clubs meet again for the third and final time next Wednesday in Seattle.

The Dash will look to rebound on Sunday when they travel to Portland to face Thorns FC on ESPN2. Seattle continues their road trip to take on FC Kansas City on Saturday.